Dosoli: WorldSBK triple crown ‘amazing’, credits Razgatlioglu for perfect season

Yamaha’s first WorldSBK triple crown has brought an end to an amazing 2021 season for the Japanese manufacturer. 

Toprak Razgatlioglu won the team’s first riders’ WorldSBK title in 12 years after getting the better of Jonathan Rea, while rookie Andrea Locatelli helped play his part in the team’s overall success by claiming fourth at the final round. 

Razgatlioglu’s title success looked inevitable following Portimao when title rival Rea crashed twice, however, the Kawasaki rider applied the pressure until the very last race, a race he won as only 13 points separated the two men in the end. 

Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Manager, Andrea Dosoli, believes the battle between Razgatlioglu, Rea and Ducati’s Scott Redding, who himself was still in title contention until the penultimate round in San Juan, created the ‘best-ever season in WorldSBK history’. 

"It has been an amazing season, a word that doesn’t justify how good this year has been. The Triple Crown in the FIM Superbike World Championship is something that means a lot," added Dosoli. 

"I believe it’s been the best-ever season in WorldSBK history. I don’t remember a season where three riders and three manufacturers are fighting every single lap, every single race for the podium.” 

"The level of competition has been so high, so I must congratulate Toprak [Razgatlioglu] and the team for a fantastic job. 

"Toprak didn’t make any mistakes and he has been very well supported by a strong team. 

"After a difficult season in 2020, even though it’s been tough to get here, we’ve been able to better understand what the riders need to be on the podium."

Crucial to Razgatlioglu’s success in 2021 has been the year-on-year improvements made by Yamaha, while the overall team around the Turkish rider played a huge role according to Dosoli.

Dosoli added: "We established a very efficient way of working, so thanks to the engineers, Yamaha in Japan, Toprak and the team. 

"It has been 12 years since we won the riders’ title, but since coming back we’ve been able to improve step-by-step and what makes this year so special is that the level of competition is like never seen before. It means a lot to all of us."